Bell started 13th on the GTD grid and had the No. 23 Alex Job Racing Audi R8 in the top-10 just eight laps into the 10-hour race. He kept it in the top-10 before handing it over to Sweedler, who also kept it in the top 10 during his first stint before turning it over to Montecalvo on lap 88.

Bell had the wheel of the No. 23 Alex Job Racing Audi R8 LMS for the 15-minute qualifying session around the 2.5-mile, 12-turn circuit. The driver from California posted a lap of 1:21.648 on his fifth lap of the session. The team has been dialing in the Audi R8 LMS to a very warm track, temperatures at qualifying time were in the mid-80s. The team will take the start at 11:05 a.m. ET from the 13th position on the GTD grid.

The Alex Job led team took the opportunity to test at Road Atlanta in September to improve their chances for a strong run at the 20th anniversary of the endurance classic founded by Dan Panoz in 1997. Sweedler and Bell had a solid finish of eighth at Lime Rock in July, but the trio are looking for a stronger run this weekend at the 2.5-mile, 12-turn track located 45-minutes north of Atlanta. Running just five events this season the trio are looking to close out the season with a podium run.

After a tough day of practice and qualifying yesterday the team and drivers came together and put in a solid run to come home in eighth. Sweedler had the wheel of the silver Audi R8 LMS at the start and turned the car over to Bell toward the front. Bell rejoined the race as the pit stops cycled through in ninth. Just under two-hours into the race, Bell had to serve a drive-thru penalty for contact on the track. He rejoined and was able to make a couple of moves in the last half-hour, keeping the car under him for the eighth place at the checker.

Under a warm sun, nearly 90-degrees, the track located two-and-a-half hours north of New York City, proved to be tricky when the drivers and AJR crew were setting up the No. 23 Audi R8 LMS today at Lime Rock Park.

The track located two-and-a-half hours north of New York City, Lime Rock Park is a short circuit measuring just 1.5-miles. The little track in a valley has just seven-turns, comprised of six right-handers and one left-hand turn. Lap times for the GTD Class cars will be in the range of 53-seconds. This will have the drivers, crew members and strategists on their toes for two-hours-and-forty minutes on Saturday.

Bell started 16th on the GTD grid and his No. 23 Audi R8 LMS ran a nearly flawlessly throughout his first stint. In fact, he had the car in the top 10 just 22 laps into the six hour race. But, no sooner than he got into the top 10, the left rear tire on the No. 23 Audi went flat exiting the Turn 1 curbing. Subsequently, Bell had to limp the car around the 3.4-mile, 11-turn road course back to pit lane. This put the team two laps down with a little more than five hours remaining.

Bell, who is coming off a third place class finish at Le Mans a two-weeks ago, had the controls of the No. 23 Audi R8 LMS for today's 15-minute GTD qualifying session. Unfortunately, Bell's session did not last long. Three laps into it, IMSA gave the No. 23 Audi a black flag. Corner workers reporting seeing a fire in the rear of the car. As a result, Bell brought the car to pit lane where the crew discovered a significant gearbox issue that ended the team's qualifying session. Bell will start from the eighth row as a result of his 1:50.647 qualifying time.

Sweedler and Bell are coming off of a third place run in the 24 Hours of Le Mans. The duo want to carry that momentum forward this weekend at The Glen. Teammate Frankie Montecalvo has been keeping his competitive edge sharp as well since Sebring running in the Pirelli World Challenge Series. In addition to all of the drivers being in race shape the Audi R8 LMS has received favorable balance of performance (BoP) changes since the team last raced at Sebring in March.

Alex Job Racing qualified 15th to start today's once around the clock race. And, they knew from the start, it was going to be an uphill battle to find themselves on the podium. But, with it being a long race, the drivers and crew were up for the challenge - and a challenging day it proved to be.

Under sunny skies and temperatures over 70 degrees, Bell was behind the wheel of the No. 23 Audi R8 LMS GT3 for this afternoon's 15 minute GTD qualifying session. Bell turned his fastest lap with 2:02.276 on his seventh circuit around the 3.74-mile, 17 turn. Unfortunately, Bell's top time has the 10-time Sebring-winning Alex Job Racing team starting 15th on the GTD grid.

Highlands, NJ – Alex Job Racing driver Frankie Montecalvo completed a successful two-day test with teammates Bill Sweedler and Townsend Bell at Sebring late last week. After finishing P6 in class on the high banks of Daytona at the Rolex 24 in January, the Alex Job Racing team is switching gears to get their #23 Audi R8 LMS ready for the flat, but bumpy 3.74-mile circuit that is Sebring International Raceway.